My question is whether this focus on, and investment in, primary care will pay off. On paper, it sounds logical. But primary care isn’t exactly a stable foundation for a health policy platform. These headlines tell the story – 16% Of Physicians Hanging Up Their Spurs and Burnout Is Big. When I talk to executives of mental health organizations that have added primary care programs, most of them say that without grant money, the models will not be sustainable.

So what is the fix for primary care? According to the keynote speaker at our 2016 OPEN MINDS Executive Leadership Retreat, Peter Anderson, M.D., the solution is moving to a “team inside the exam room” in primary care. In his address, Reclaiming The Primary Care Consumer Experience & What It Means To Health & Human Service Organizations, he spoke of his personal experience as a primary care physician – long hours and red ink. But, he went on to develop a primary care delivery model that is focused on high-quality consumer care (his four “C’s” for better health outcomes are competent treatment, continuous care, cost effective services, and convenient access) and making money. His key was to redesign clinical processes with more staff to do all the non-physician work of the exam room typically done by primary care physicians. This “team” approach enables same-day appointments and increases financial viability of primary care. What are those functions?

Initial medical data collection

Presentation of data

Scribing of entire visit

Ordering of the physician’s treatment plan

Control of the visit

Closure of the visit

Dr. Anderson shared how these functions saved his own practice – from both a clinical satisfaction and financial perspective. And, he gave examples of the impact of applying team-based approaches on a group of eight internists – quarterly revenue rose by 42% – from $53,000 to $318,000.

It appears this “team” approach is also central to making primary care work in an integrated, value-based market. Dr. Anderson’s points on process are parallel to the comments of Dennis Freeman, Ph.D., chief executive officer for Cherokee Health Systems, at The 2016 OPEN MINDS California Management and Best Practices Institute – it’s all about reengineering the consumer interface and the clinical workflow process (see Integration Is All About The ‘Flow’). A system that can provide primary care services, as well as behavioral health visits, is a system that needs teamwork, great technology, real-time performance management, and leadership.

For more on the challenging evolution of primary care, check out these resources from the OPEN MINDS Industry Library:

Make sure to tune in tomorrow for more coverage of The 2016 OPEN MINDS Executive Leadership Retreat. If you couldn’t join us in Gettysburg, be sure to check out our live coverage on Twitter @openmindscircle#OMLeadership, and look for photos of the retreat on our Facebook page.